the WW1 cat named Spark Plug (Veterans Day post) the mascot for an aviator squad on a Curtiss Jenny


 December 28, 1917 Brooklyn Eagle ran this photo with the caption. 
Spark Plug, the cat mascot, an interested onlooker.


Princeton Aviation School






Paws At The Ready - The cats of World War One had significant role 

Give thought to all the kitties
who served in World War One.
A battalion of the finest
who never fired a gun.

Whether hunting rodents out at sea,
or loyal friends to men,
these many cats had vital roles,
time and time again.

A common sight in trenches deep,
dispatching mice and rats,
the soldiers’ had a special bond
with many of these cats.

Five hundred thousand cats were sent
to serve in the Great War.
Some detected mustard gas,
whilst others were off shore.

Togo was the Dreadnought’s cat,
The Swan had their lad Ching.
Pincher was the Vinex’s mog,
it was luck they hoped they’d bring.

‘Martinpuich’ was aptly named,
by The 9th battalion chaps.
Pitouchi was the orphaned kit,
who’d survived on army scraps.

Spark Plug, Tabby and many more
were companions to the troops.
The feline unsung heroes,
those cats who became recruits.

We’ll never truly realise
just what these cats went through.
So spare a thought and give some thanks
for what they did for you!

Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. - Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).

Leroy Grannis, prolific surfing photographer in the 60s and 70s, subsequently took some cool vehicle photos (thank you Doug!)


nice to see a random street scene with the cars that were ordinary at the time

Makaha 1962






Wikipedia says:
   Born in Hermosa Beach, California, his portfolio of photography of surfing and related sea images from the 1960s enjoys a reputation that led The New York Times to dub him "the godfather of surf photography." 

Unable to afford an education at UCLA during the Depression, Grannis dropped out and found work as a carpenter, junkyard de-tinner and spent some years at Standard Oil. 

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943, serving as a pilot flying supplies to troops in combat and remaining on active reserve until retiring as a major in 1977.

In 1971, fed up with increased competition for the perfect angle, Grannis quit shooting surfing and soon found himself involved in hang gliding. The sport balanced surfing in his life, and he held a brief stint as photographer for Hang Gliding magazine.


Leroy's truck, Carrillo state beach, 1963


Redondo 1963


Huntington Beach 1961



Aikau Family, Sunset Beach, 1967